Praying for genuine spiritual reformation in Nairobi
by preaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27)
Precept upon precept, line upon line...
Isaiah 28:10, 13

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Why Church Membership?

What is church membership?

Church membership is the outward demonstration of
one’s inner commitment to identify with Christ and His followers, be taught the
Scriptures, submit to God’s ordained authority structure, selflessly serve
other believers, and grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ together.

Biblical basis for church membership

A.
Evidence that the early church had some form of “membership”

1.
Numbers were known

Acts 1:15 -- 120

Acts 2:41 – added 3,000

Acts 4:4 – 5,000

2.
Rolls were kept

1
Timothy 5:9 “Widows
indeed” were recognized members of the congregation whose needs were known and
whose names were put on a special care list.

3.
Servants were chosen by the congregation

Acts
6:2-5 the apostles
instructed the believers in Jerusalem to “select from among you” seven men to
serve the people. “From among you” indicates that some kind of “whose in” and
“whose out” lists were maintained. At the very minimum, there was an
understanding that believers identified themselves with other believers in some
formal way.

4.
Discipline was practiced

1
Corinthians 5:12-13 For
what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within
the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from
among yourselves.

Again, the phrase “from among” indicates that the
local congregation at Corinth knew who was a part of the church.

5.
Worship was corporate

1
Corinthians 14:23 If
therefore the whole church should assemble together…

NOTE: The modern day trend among some homeschoolers
to “home church” is completely unbiblical and antibiblical. The early church
may have met in homes, but they did not “home church.”

6.
Pastors/shepherds must give an account for their flock

Hebrews
13:17 Obey your
leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who
will give an account.

QUESTION: How can pastors keep watch over their flock
and stand before God to give an account for the flock that God entrusted to
their care if they do not have a means by which to know who is in the flock and
who is outside the flock?

1 comment:

Please let me know if you're looking for a article writer for your site.You have some really good articles and I believe I would be a good asset.If you ever want to take some of the load off, I'd really like to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.